Pioneers Earn First-Ever Victory Against Vermont

Sunday, August 16

Burlington, VT

1:00 PM

Sacred Heart

2-0-0, 0-0-0

Vermont

0-1-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Sacred Heart	0	2	2
Vermont	0	0	0

Photo by: Greg Vasil

Pioneers Earn First-Ever Victory Against Vermont

8/16/2026 3:41:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

This is the first 2-0 start since 2000

By: Joe Verrillo

BURLINGTON, VT. – The Sacred Heart University women's soccer team cruised past the University of Vermont, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon. After earning their first-ever draw against the Catamounts a season ago, the Pioneers made history this time around, securing their first win over Vermont in program history.

Top Performers:
Shea Kelleher: 1 goal | 4 shots on goal
Riley Pettigrew: 1 assist
Rylee McGee: 1 goal

Between the Pipes:
Sacred Heart: Kyran Thievon: 0 goals against | 3 saves | Casey Mulligan: (W, 1-0-0) 0 goals against | 2 saves
Vermont: Sydney Slusser: 2 goals against | 5 saves | Sophia Kling: 0 goals against | 3 saves

How it Happened:
The Pioneers came out aggressive, recording three shots within the first 10 minutes, including one on goal. Their best opportunity came from Kelleher, who fired a shot on target, but the goalkeeper made a diving save to keep the Pioneers off the board.

Through the first 20 minutes of play, the Pioneers' defense did a great job limiting the Catamounts' offensive opportunities. Vermont did not record its first shot until the 20th minute, when Thievon came up with her first save of the season to keep the game scoreless.

Throughout the remainder of the half, both teams continued to generate scoring opportunities. Lauren Roeder and Hannah Murphy each tested the goalkeeper with shots on target, but the Catamounts were able to keep the Pioneers off the board and send the game into halftime scoreless.

At the start of the second half, Mulligan took over in net for Thievon. Both sides continued to generate quality chances until the Pioneers broke through in the 56th minute. Kelleher found the back of the net off a feed from Pettigrew, netting her second goal of the season to give SHU a 1-0 lead.

Just six minutes later, McGee added to the lead. She fired a shot from about five yards outside the box and found the back of the net to double the Pioneers' lead. After being locked in a scoreless battle just minutes earlier, SHU suddenly held a 2-0 advantage and was within striking distance of its first win over the Catamounts in program history.

For the remainder of the game, the Pioneers remained aggressive, continuing to generate opportunities on the offensive end. One of their best chances came in the 86th minute on a free kick from about 10 yards outside the box.

Defensively, SHU continued to limit the Catamounts' opportunities on goal. The Pioneers' back line came up with several key blocks down the stretch, preventing Vermont from cutting into the lead.

Of Note:
This was Sacred Heart's first time beating the Catamounts in program history.
This is the program's first 2-0 start since 2000.
McGee matched her 2025 goal total, two, in just two games.
Pettigrew recorded her first career assist
Kelleher, after just two games, increased her point total to six

Up Next:
Sacred Heart is back in action, one week from today, on Sunday, August 23^rd. They will be back on the road as they take on the University of Maine in Orono, Maine. Kickoff is set for 12:00 pm.